The golden key rose slowly from the floating football.
It shimmered with ancient symbols that neither McCall nor Kai could read.
The entire Sanctuary trembled.
Every throne radiated brilliant light.
Arthur took one step forward.
His usually calm face was filled with disbelief.
“The Key…”
Leo’s jaw dropped.
“It actually appeared…”
The Silver Queen whispered,
“Only the chosen successor can awaken it.”
McCall stared at the glowing key.
“I don’t understand.”
Arthur answered quietly.
“The Legacy Archive has been sealed for over five hundred years.”
“It only opens for someone acknowledged by both the Heart…
and another Legacy Candidate.”
Kai slowly lowered his guard.
“So…”
“I was part of the test.”
Arthur nodded.
“You were.”
The key suddenly flew toward McCall.
Without thinking…
He reached out.
The moment his fingers touched it—
FLASH!
The Sanctuary disappeared.
McCall found himself standing inside an endless golden library.
Books floated through the air like stars.
Ancient footballs revolved around gigantic pillars.
Every shelf stretched beyond the horizon.
At the very center stood a massive crystal door.
Written above it were four words.
THE LEGACY ARCHIVE
A familiar voice echoed behind him.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
McCall turned.
The First King stood there.
Exactly as he had appeared in the Arena Beyond Time.
His white robe fluttered gently.
His golden eyes carried the same warmth.
McCall smiled.
“I’ve missed you.”
The First King laughed softly.
“And you’ve grown.”
McCall looked around.
“So this is the Archive?”
“It is.”
“It contains every lesson…”
“Every victory…”
“Every defeat…”
“Of every Football King.”
McCall slowly walked toward the crystal door.
“Can I open it?”
The First King smiled.
“Only the first page.”
The golden key floated into the crystal lock.
Click.
The gigantic doors slowly opened.
Inside…
There wasn’t a library.
There was a football field.
A breathtaking stadium stretched endlessly beneath a sunset sky.
Thousands of transparent spectators filled the stands.
McCall looked around in amazement.
“What is this place?”
The First King answered.
“This…”
“…is the Match of Origins.”
“The first football match ever played by the Kings.”
Two teams stood on the field.
One wore white.
The other black.
The players looked ordinary.
No glowing powers.
No supernatural abilities.
Only incredible football.
The First King pointed toward a young boy wearing white.
“That…”
“…was me.”
McCall watched in silence.
The young First King wasn’t the strongest.
He wasn’t the fastest.
He wasn’t even the most skillful.
But every player trusted him.
Every pass found him.
Every teammate smiled because of him.
McCall whispered,
“They believe in you.”
The First King nodded.
“That…”
“…is where true leadership begins.”
Suddenly…
The vision accelerated.
Hundreds of matches flashed before McCall’s eyes.
Victories.
Defeats.
Injuries.
Tears.
Celebrations.
He witnessed every Football King.
Every one of them lost important matches.
Every one of them failed.
Every one of them doubted themselves.
McCall frowned.
“They weren’t perfect…”
The First King smiled.
“No.”
“They became Kings…”
“Because they refused to stay defeated.”
Those words struck McCall harder than anything else.
The System appeared.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Legacy Archive
Chapter One Complete
Knowledge Gained:
King’s Vision II
New Passive:
Leader’s Presence
Nearby teammates gain slight confidence when fighting alongside the host.
Legacy Synchronization
5.0% → 7.5%
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Warm energy surged through McCall.
He felt…
different.
Not stronger.
Outside the Archive…
Arthur and the others watched anxiously.
Golden light surrounded McCall’s body.
Kai folded his arms.
“He’s still inside.”
Rowan nodded.
“The Archive is judging him.”
Adrian smiled.
“And I think…”
“…it’s accepting him.”
At that exact moment…
Far beneath the Sanctuary…
Something ancient awakened.
A pair of crimson eyes slowly opened inside a prison made of black crystal.
Heavy chains covered a gigantic figure sitting on an enormous throne.
Its deep voice echoed through the darkness.
“So…”
“The Heart has reached seven percent.”
The chains rattled.
“I can finally hear him.”
A hooded Raven knelt before the prison.
“My Lord…”
“The Successor has entered the Archive.”
The giant slowly smiled.
“Excellent.”
“Continue preparing.”
The Raven bowed.
“The Seven Generals are already moving.”
The chained figure looked upward, as though staring directly at McCall.
“When the Heart reaches fifty percent…”
“…my prison will break.”
“And when that day comes…”
“…the world will witness the return of the Thirteenth King.”
The entire underground prison shook violently.
Far above…
McCall suddenly opened his eyes inside the Sanctuary.
The golden light faded.
The floating key disappeared.
Arthur smiled proudly.
“Welcome back.”
McCall took a slow breath.
“I saw them…”
“The First King…”
“The beginning…”
Arthur nodded.
“Good.”
“But your greatest challenge…”
His smile faded.
“…is no longer the Tournament.”
Kai looked toward the northern gate.
Someone else had arrived.
A lone figure stepped through the entrance.
He wore Brookhaven High’s football uniform.
His hands were in his pockets.
His expression was calm.
McCall’s eyes widened.
“…Ethan?”
The newcomer looked at him for a long moment before speaking.
“No.”
“My name…”
“…is Ethan Hartman.”
“I’ve come to claim my place…”
“…as a Legacy Candidate.”
The Eleven Kings fell silent.
Arthur slowly closed his eyes.
“So…”
“The Lion has finally awakened.”